So.... Stadium Arcadium. I've been meaning to post about it. But first, I'm going to get a couple little things off my chest:

First off, I take back about half the bad things I've ever said about Built to Spill on here. Their new album, You in Reverse, is AWESOME (at least so far). This one has a lot more of a mainstream sound, though, than the other album of theirs I own, and I've heard they kind of switch styles every other album. The old album of theirs I have sounds like they're trying too hard to be quirky, the instruments sound out of tune on half of the songs. So they're not bad songs, necessarily, but they are intentionally cerebral. I have a friend, though, who says it's a great album, so to each his own, I guess. But anyway, I think they deserve credit for not sucking, to some extent.

Second: I'm having trouble really loving anything right now, and I'm terrified this will continue. Yeah, I like You in Reverse and Stadium Arcadium, but will I in a week from now? That's how short my attention span's become. And if I get tired of a band like Fall Out Boy in a week, I don't feel that bad about it. Some bands ARE the candy & junk food of music, they're not supposed to stick with you. But there have been some pretty good albums/bands lately that I put in a lot of work to get to like them, they are dense and should last me at least a year.... and I like them a week. I feel cheated of time and money, and I miss how I used to be.

Which brings me to Stadium Arcadium. It is GOOD. I can TELL, and if that wasn't enough, a lot of other people agree too. But I can't feel it in my bones that it will stick with me. I like it alright, but not in that deep down way that you should love your favorite music. Which is sad.... I want the album to be like an old friend like Californication or By the Way. I can't tell if it's just too soon, or I've peaked with the album, and can only get tired of it from here.

If my short attention span with albums lately, wasn't bad enough, I've always had a short attention span with bands, usually getting tired of them by the third album.

My coworkers are liking Stadium Arcadium, though. I've been bringing it to work a lot. I thought I would start getting backlash because 1) it is not indie enough, and 2) I've gotten complaints when I bring in things (Such as Ben Folds) far less than this. But everyone likes it, and that's a diverse group of musical interests. One day I brought in something else and I got a complaint that it wasn't Stadium Arcadium.

It's selling well, though not as well as that damned Dixie Chicks album. Rick Rubin, I understand you have diverse tastes, but wtf? The Dixie Chicks don't deserve your help. Stick to the RHCP's, old guys making comebacks, and... I don't know, anyone who isn't the Dixie Chicks. Though I might be biased towards hating them, because I have known a lot of jerks who listened to them.
posted by DJ Jazzy Phoe @ 8:44 PM  | 

 
So I just got the soundtrack to "Over the Hedge," for FREE, thank you very much! First decent promo I've ever seen in there. And actually, technically, I didn't see it, Sista found it and pulled it for me, for which I am very grateful.

I put my initial thoughts on it up over on my regular blog, and they weren't that charitable. I would like to revise that first impression and put it up here, because basically I had only listened to it one time, on the way home from work late last night.

Anyway, I've decided I like it better, at least. "Still" and "Still (Reprise) are pretty good, as is Heist. I haven't decided whether or not I like "Family of Me" or "Lost in the Supermarket" (a Clash cover, it even has the phrase "over the hedge" in it, which makes me wonder if the makers of this movie were subversive enough to name their movie after a line in a Clash song... I'm thinking so, given the fact some of the lyrics in the Clash song and some of the others on here are hugely depressing and/or protest the suburban lifestyle). The new version of Rockin' The Suburbs is no huge prize, but I can't decide if I just don't like it or just like the original so much that changing it is not my cup of tea. I do find the little part Bill Shatner does in it kind of funny. And the lyrics are somewhat amusing, though not hilarious. They're also really depressing, though. Whereas the original lyrics kind of playfully mocked the music industry and Ben himself ("I'm rockin' the suburbs/I take the checks and face the facts/and some producer with computers fixes all my shitty tracks"), this version goes right for the jugular in terms of attacking the kind of rat race suburban life and pop culture a lot of people are trapped in ("We're rockin' the suburbs/we feed the dog and mow the lawn/watching Mommy bounce the checks/and Daddy juggle credit cards"). At least one of the other songs on here is a milder version of that. Which leads me to think: man, how depressing (and even more, a grown up version of depressing) of a soundtrack for a children's movie! I wonder how many of the lyrics actually make it into the film.

Despite all this, I'm slightly tempted, depending on how much of Ben's actual music makes it into the movie, to get the movie for the 'phew when it comes out just so that I can subtly brainwash him into likeing Ben Folds. Same for Curious George/Jack Johnson. No, I'm not a particular fan of Jack Johnson, but better him than a lot of the stuff out there *cough* High School musical soundtrack *cough*
posted by DJ Jazzy Phoe @ 11:20 AM  | 

 
First off: I take back everything bad I ever said about the Shins. You guys are alright!

No particular reason. I just remember being very disappointed with the album of theirs I have, but I find I listen to it more and more over time.

Secondly: I want Wolf Parade to have my babies. I really am loving "Apologies to the Queen Mary." If I keep loving them (which who knows, given my short attention span lately), I might have to check out other albums of theirs/the solo project I've heard the singer has.

Right now I'm especially loving their song "Shine a Light." The lyrics are kind of ambiguous, but the actual music is just so damn happy that I find myself moshing in my car to it, completely oblivious to anything but happily rocking out. I also noticed how I will take ANY song I like and forcefully try to make it relevant to my life. Even a song that is patently about something else, and I know it, I'll at least try to make one line about me.

I mean, Brick, the Ben Folds song about getting an abortion? I have related it to myself before! Though... mostly the opening lines:

"6 a.m.
day after Christmas
I throw some clothes on in the dark
smell of cold
car seat is freezing
the world is sleeping
I am
numb"

Because it's just such a vivid image of what it's like whenever you get up early for anything. At least to me.

And I probably have a whole long laundry list of songs I've done that with, mainly Ben Folds songs come to mind, but I know I've done it with the Old 97's, Everclear, Idlewild, etc. etc.

I guess I just thought of mentioning that I do that (which probably a lot of people do it, but eh) because I really am feeling the part of "Shine a Light" that goes:

"I keep my head on tight
I make my plans at night
and I don't sleep I don't sleep I don't sleep 'til it's light"

So... er.. there you go.
posted by DJ Jazzy Phoe @ 10:25 AM  |